Religion of Georgians. What is the main religion in Georgia: the history of origin, the main shrines. Best places to visit
), almost all of whom are ethnic Armenians. Adherents of Islam make up 10.7% of the population and are mainly found in Adjara and Kvemo Kartli regions and, as a significant minority, in Tbilisi. Catholics of the Armenian and Latin churches make up about 0.8% of the population and are mostly found in southern Georgia and a small number in Tbilisi. There is also a significant Jewish community in Tbilisi served by two synagogues.
Georgian Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church is one of the oldest in the world Christian churches, founded in the 1st century by the Apostle Andrew the First-Called. In the first half of the 4th century, Christianity was adopted as state religion. This provided strong feeling national identity, which helped to preserve the national Georgian identity, despite repeated periods of foreign occupation and attempted assimilation.
Georgia has a long history of religious harmony within its borders, despite historical conflicts with surrounding nations. Various religious minorities have lived in Georgia for thousands of years, and religious discrimination is virtually unknown in the country. There are Jewish communities throughout the country, with major concentrations in the two largest cities of Tbilisi and Kutaisi. Azerbaijani groups have been practicing Islam in Georgia for centuries, as have the Adjarians and some of the Abkhazians who are concentrated in their respective autonomous republics. The Armenian Apostolic Church, whose teaching differs in some respects from that of Georgian Orthodoxy, has autocephaly.
Religious demographics
The country has a total area of about 25,900 square miles (69,700 km) and a population (as of 2014) of 3.7 million people.
According to the 2014 census, 83.4% of Georgia's population identified themselves as Eastern Orthodox Christian, 10.7% Muslim, 3.9% Armenian Apostolic and 0.5% Roman Catholic. Orthodox churches serving other non-Georgian speaking ethnic groups, such as Russians and Greeks, are subordinate to the Georgian Orthodox Church. Non-Georgian Orthodox Churches usually use the language of their communicants.
In addition, there is a small number of ethnic Russians, mostly believers from two dissident Christian movements: the ultra-orthodox Old Believers, and spiritual Christians (the Molokans and Doukhobors). Most of these groups have left the country since the mid-1980s.
Apart from the Georgian Orthodox Church, Christianity in Georgia is represented by the followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, and the Catholic Church of Georgia, which mostly follows either the Latin Rite or the Armenian Rite.
A 2015 study estimates about 1,300 believing Christians from Muslim backgrounds in the country, most of them belonging to some form of Protestantism.
Islam
Botanical street and Sunni mosques, Tbilisi. Mid 1880
Islam was introduced to Georgia in 645 AD. during the reign of Islam's third caliph, Uthman. During this period, Tbilisi ( al-Tefelis listen)) grew into a center of trade between the Islamic world and northern Europe. The history of Islam continues in Georgia throughout the late 14th and early 15th centuries with the invasions of Tamerlane of Georgia and during the 16th and early 19th centuries, Iranians (Safavids, Afsharids, Qajars) and Ottomans commanded influence in the region until its annexation to Russia in 1801. In 1703 Vakhtang VI became the ruler of the Kingdom of Kartli, and he converted to Islam. Other notable Georgian Muslims from that era include
Armenia is the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301. This is a state with a rich history, rooted in the legend of Noah's ark left on Mount Ararat. The Armenian highlands became the location of the legendary ancient state Urartu, who competed for the right of primacy in this region with Babylon and Assyria. Then Armenia fell under the influence of Media, and soon became part of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. This territory was conquered by Alexander the Great and became part of the vast Hellenistic world. After the death of the great conqueror, the Armenian state fell under the protectorate of the Syrian Seleucids.
Christian doctrine began to spread throughout the territory of Armenia as early as the 1st century AD, however, as in neighboring Colchis (present). There is a legend according to which the Armenian ruler Avgar, having learned about the appearance of the Savior on Palestinian land, sent his ambassadors to him with an invitation to visit the capital, Edessa. In response to the invitation, the Savior sent two of his disciples, Bartholomew and Fadey, with blessings and His miraculous way. Coming to the Armenian land from Assyria and Cappadocia, they began to carry the word of God in the period from 60 to 68 AD. In the Armenian tradition, Thadeus and Bartholomew became known as the "Enlighteners of the Armenian World". For the first two centuries, Armenian Christians were still oppressed by pagans - they were in the majority, and paganism remained the state religion. The persecution of the new faith in Armenia was carried out in parallel with the persecution in Rome. Both the then rulers Trdat III and the Roman emperor Diocletian considered the first Christians to be marginal elements, corrupting the foundations of statehood. However, gradually the oppression at the official level faded away and by the beginning of the 4th century it had completely disappeared - in 313, Emperor Constantine the Great signed the Edict of Milan, legalizing christian religion in the Roman Empire. Trdat's intentions were even more radical - he decided overnight to eradicate paganism, and make Christianity a single faith for all Armenians.
Levon II. (wikipedia.org)
The reason for this act was the story of the martyrdom of the holy virgins of the Hripsimeans. Several Christian girls - Romans fled from persecution in their homeland and, having visited Jerusalem, came to Armenia, where they settled near the city of Vagharshapat. Trdat admired the beauty of one of them, Hripsime, but did not meet reciprocity, which made him furious and ordered the execution of all Roman women. The demonstrative execution took place in 300, and its consequences seriously affected the ruler’s mental health: the illness that happened to Trdat was often called “pig”, which is why a pig’s head appeared in the image of the king. And at the same time, one of the former associates of the king, the Christian Gregory, was imprisoned, whom Trdat accused of killing his father and put him in a pit with snakes and scorpions. After spending 13 years in inhuman conditions, Gregory was miraculously released, as the king's sister dreamed prophetic dream, informing that only this prisoner is able to heal her brother from mental illness. The liberated Gregory commanded that the tortured Hripsimean women be buried with all Christian honors. And after serving 66 days of preaching, he eventually healed the ruler. Fascinated by the miracles of Gregory, Trdat accepted Christian faith and made it the official religion of Armenia.
Saint Gregory the Illuminator. (wikipedia.org)
The ancient Georgian state adopted Christianity in the same 4th century thanks to Saint Nino, who from that moment is considered the patroness of Georgia. As in the case of Armenia, the reason for the adoption of Christianity was a miracle of healing, and in 324 or 326 the Georgian king Mirian approved a new official religion. Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Nino was born in Cappadocia around the year 280. Coming from a very noble family, a young girl at the age of 12 ended up in Jerusalem, where her parents took the priesthood. Once in the upbringing of the old woman Nianfora, Nino enthusiastically listened to her stories about the distant and fabulous country of Iveria (present-day Georgia). Inspired by the stories, Nino once wanted to visit this country and soon she had such a chance: one day in a dream she dreamed of the Virgin Mary, who handed her a cross from a vine, saying - “Take this cross, it will be your shield and fence against all visible and invisible enemies. Go to the country of Iberia, preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ there, and you will find grace with Him. I will be your protector." This cross is still kept in cathedral Sioni in Tbilisi. Nino turned for a blessing to her uncle, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, who let her go to a distant land.
On the way to Iveria, Nino almost died at the hands of the Armenian ruler Trdat III, already mentioned above in connection with the baptism of Armenia. Miraculously escaping death, Nino reached Iberia in 319. Entering the ancient capital of Georgia, Mtskheta, the future patroness of all Georgians found shelter in the family of a childless royal gardener. Prayers of Saint Nino miraculously helped the gardener's wife Anna, who soon became pregnant and after this story came to believe in Christ. Soon, the miraculous Nino was first found out in the immediate vicinity, and later rumors reached the Georgian queen Nana, who was suffering from a serious illness. However, against King Mirian miraculous event with his wife, he had the opposite effect - he hated Saint Nino and even wanted to kill her.
But after a hunting accident, the king, having fallen under a thunderstorm, became blind and promised to accept Christianity in case of his healing. Saint Nino soon healed Mirian, and in gratitude he believed in God and converted to the Christian faith first all his subjects, and then the entire Iberian people. According to the legend of the chronicles, Saint Nino pointed out to the king where the Chiton of the Lord was located, and at that place (in Mtskheta) they first erected a wooden and then a stone church in honor of the 12 holy Apostles, Svetitskhoveli. In 324 (or 326) Christianity became the official religion of the Georgian people. After the churching of Iberia, St. Nino went to neighboring Kakheti, where she converted the local Queen Sophia to the faith.
Saint Nino. (wikipedia.org)
Having accomplished his good mission, Saint Nino soon had a dream in which she learned of her imminent death. She asked King Mirian to send Bishop John to help her prepare for her last journey. Soon Saint Nino, with the bishop and the king of Iberia, went to Bodbe, where, on her deathbed, she performed her last healings and told about her origin there. This information is reflected in the annals that have survived to our times. On January 27, 335 (or 347), Saint Nino was buried in Bodba, as she herself bequeathed. The Georgian Orthodox Church, with the consent of the Patriarchate of Antioch, called the Enlightener of Georgia Equal-to-the-Apostles and canonized it as a saint. In Georgia, on January 27, the Ninooba holiday was established - on this day the Orthodox Church commemorates St. Nino. In honor of her, many temples were erected throughout the country, in Tbilisi alone there are at least five. And in the Zion Cathedral of the Assumption Mother of God a vine cross is kept, entwined with her hair.
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Merciful!
Praise be to Allah - the Lord of the worlds! Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and companions. Whoever Allah guides, no one will lead him astray, and whom Allah leads astray, no one will guide him. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah alone, Who has no partner. And I testify that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His messenger.
Georgia was a Muslim country
The history of Georgia, like the history of the entire Caucasus, is the history of the struggle for their freedom, faith and original culture. During its existence, the Georgian people had to face in the struggle for freedom with many states, conquerors and peoples who spread various beliefs and ideologies.
Romans, Arabs, Mongols, Persians, Ottomans-
this is by no means a complete list of those peoples and representatives of states that, in various historical periods time collided in interests for the possession of truly fabulous corners of the world-
Caucasus and, in particular, Georgia. The history of Georgia and its relations with the peoples and tribes surrounding it does not know a single case of religious discord or conflict based on religious intolerance. Although some signs inspired by dishonest politicians still exist.
With the advent of Islam in the Caucasus region, in the year 25 lunar calendar Hijra, the city of Tiflis and the adjacent areas were occupied by Muslims who ruled in this city for about 500 years. Muslims lived peacefully and friendly with Georgian Christians. During this period, the Muslims did not try to forcefully influence the faith of the Georgians. Georgians had to pay taxes, which were withdrawn if they became Muslims.
Probably, this principle contributed to the fact that after the reconquest of the city of Tiflis by the Georgians in the year 515 of the lunar calendar of the Hijri, their peaceful existence with the Muslims also continued. The wise King of Georgia David Agmashenebeli treated his subjects with respect and love. Suffice it to cite the fact that after the victory in the famous battle of Didgori, in one of religious holidays King David Agmashenebeli, together with Prince Demeter, visited Muslim prayer houses, congratulated the believers and bestowed gifts on them.
As a sign of respect, he, with a special firman, forbade the slaughter of pigs in Muslim quarters, so as not to offend the feelings of his subjects. According to Belazari in the book “Futuh Al Baladan”, in the 25th year of the lunar calendar of the Hijri, the capture of Armenia began, and Habib Ibn Muslim, during the Caliphate of Usman (may Allah be pleased with him), went to Jorzan (Georgia). He after the victory over the tribes "Uluj" entered Tiflis and wrote a peace agreement Jorzan. This agreement contributed to the preservation of temples, churches, prayers and their Christian faith.
The Muslim ruler's name was Ishak Ibn Ismail. He gathered a lot of strength and reached such a level that he declared his independence before the Caliphate. Until 515 AH, Tiflis was considered an Islamic city. Yagut says about this: “After the capture of Tiflis, in the time of Osman, until the year 515 of the lunar calendar of the Hijri, this city was constantly with the Muslims, and its population were Muslims.”
Ibn Hoghal states more broadly: “By religion, they belong to Muslims - Sunnis on the basis of the old faith. They value the science of hadith and respect the scholars of hadith.” Yaqubi points out that Tiflis was considered a Muslim military base in Armenia and tells about the battles of the commanders of the Abbas Caliphate in this region, in 141-178. lunar hijri calendar.
In 238-240 years. According to Hijri, under the leadership of the Betrigs, a rebellion arose that swept the whole of Armenia. The Amir of the Abbas Caliphate was forced to send one of his commanders to the region to put down the rebellion. But the emissary could not cope, and was killed. Simultaneously with these events, the Muslim ruler of Tiflis, Ishak Ibn Ismail, did not send taxes to the Caliph in Baghdad, declaring his sovereignty. In this regard, he received the nickname "Tifli rebel". He was killed in wars with the forces of the Caliphate, and his head was sent to Baghdad. Masudi, also pointing to these events, adds: “In those years, in Tiflis, the greatness of the Muslims weakened. The neighboring states ceased to obey the Muslim Hakim and occupied most of the lands around Tiflis.
Tribes of infidels closed the road from the Islamic kingdom to Tiflis. Although at that time the influence of Muslims in the region weakened, Tiflis was preserved as an Islamic city, and was considered the border between Islam and the infidels. Among other things, Istakhri writes as follows: “The Kura River has very good water that flows from the mountains. This river passes through the middle of Tiflis and goes to the land of the infidels.”
Mokadesi, also, in his book “Ahsan Al Taghasim” writes: “The Kura River passes through Tiflis and goes to Kofrestan (country of infidels)”. And, finally, Yagut, confirming the fact that the disagreement between the Hakim of Tiflis and the commander of the Caliphate, led to his death, the loss of the majesty of the Caliphate, the strengthening of the forces of the infidels around the city and the weakening of the Muslims, writes as follows: “Nevertheless, Tiflis, until 515 AH , was in the hands of the Muslims, but the infidels were able to seize this land. All this proves that the city of Tiflis, before the occupation by Christian Georgians, that is, until 515 AH, was under the rule of Islam and a significant number of Muslims lived there.
Yagut named several Muslim rulers living in Tiflis, including Abuahmad Hamed Ibn Yusuf Ibn Ahmad Ibn Alhosein Altiflisi. After the fall of the power of the Arabs over Georgia, from 515 to 623. Hijri, during the reign of David Bani, this region was captured by the Abkhazians, who created a strong monarchy, and the culmination of the power of this monarchy was under Queen Tamar, daughter of George III, in 1184-1213.
After the conquest of Georgia by the Mongols, this country lost its importance as a base for the Crusades and gradually fell into the zone of influence of the Iranian Ilkhans and Mongols. In 1453, the Ottoman Sultan conquered Istanbul and the Byzan Empire, which was the fulcrum of Georgia, collapsed into history. The Ottoman Turks occupied the main regions of this land. Ivan the Terrible and other Muscovite tsars paid special attention to the small kingdom of Georgia.
But, at that time, the Russians did not have such power to eliminate the power and influence of Muslims in this region. The 16th century witnessed the reign of Shahabas Safavi in this region. The Mukhran dynasty reigned in Tiflis under the auspices of the Safavi shahs. In 1658-1723, for almost a whole century, calm and peace reigned in this region, and the Georgians had the opportunity to gradually and calmly get acquainted with the culture of the West.
The Iranian rulers Nadirshah Afshar and Agha Mohammadkhan Qajar tried to restore Iranian rule over Georgia. And even, Agha Mohammadkhan, in 1759, brutally exterminated the inhabitants of Tiflis and plundered their property. On the basis of a contract concluded on June 24, 1783, between Heraclius II and Great Catherine II, the Russians were able to dominate this region, and in 1801, Alexander I, as a result of the military occupation of Georgia, annexed this land to Russia.
This step of tsarism was the cause of the twelve-year war between Iran and Russia. On the basis of the agreement “Gulestan” and “Turkmenchay”, Iran since 1828 has renounced all its claims against Georgia.Iran's wars with Russia contributed to the emergence of great political and social changes in both countries. A revolution demanding a constitutional order has won in Iran, while opposition to the policy of "Russification" of this state has intensified in Georgia.
After the 1917 revolution in Russia, for some time the Georgians, Azerbaijanis and Armenians were ruled by a central committee called the “Transcaucasian Commissariat”. In 1918, the Georgians created an independent state and went under cover and protection of the Germans.
After the end of the First World War, this country was again occupied by the Russian army, as a result of which it became one of the former Soviet Republics. In 1988, with the advent of Gorbachev's glasnost policy, the Georgian people demanded independence and the right to power. And finally, in April 1991, Georgia was the fifth republic of the former USSR to declare its sovereignty.
In 1992, E. Shevardnadze was elected President of the Republic of Georgia. The capital of Georgia itself is a cultural monument testifying to the role of Islamic civilization.- the city of Tbilisi and its ancient architecture. Old Tbilisi has still retained its originality and is nothing more than a monument of Muslim architects. The whole architecture of old Tbilisi consists of oriental forms, narrow streets, labyrinths, dead ends and unexpected exits to the main square, shapeless superstructures and outbuildings, balconies, terraces - everything resembles ancient Istanbul, Damascus, in a word, all those cities that were once part of composition of the Ottoman Empire.
The very name of Tbilisi, or Tiflis, speaks of its Islamic roots. The most famous today architectural monuments talking about the presence and influence Islamic culture to Georgia, is the Tbilisi Mosque, built during the Ottomans, next to the mosque are the famous sulfur baths, built in the style of a mosque back in the days of Persian influence.
Before the arrival of Soviet power in Georgia, there was one majestic mosque on this territory, it occupied a huge area and was located on the banks of the Kura. The mosque was destroyed by the communists, and now there is a bridge and a small Orthodox chapel in its place. In addition to the well-known greeting "gamarjobat" (hello), Georgians also say "salami", where "salam" is clearly visible (from Arabic.- "world").
The ethnic composition of the current Ummah of Georgia is diverse, ranging from ethnic Georgians: Adjarians, Meskhs, Engelois, and to alien peoples: Chechens-Kists, Azerbaijanis. Today, new converts are added to them, among them there are local Russians, Armenians, Georgians, Jews. Most ethnic Georgian Muslims live outside of Georgia. These are laz in Turkey, big number Muslim Georgians live in Iran, Engelois are mainly geographically located in Azerbaijan.
The main part of Georgia's Muslims are Sunnis, but there are also Shiites from among ethnic Azerbaijanis. Speaking about the Adjarians, it must be said that they are the most committed and consistent in Islam, despite the fact that they were the first to accept Christianity from among the Georgians. As some elders say, the apostles of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) themselves brought the light of faith to Adjara.
Among the ancestors of the ex-leader of Adjara Aslan Abashidze were well-known Islamic scholars, one of whom was even a mufti in Istanbul and held the title of mufti of four madhhabs. In Georgia, no one today is engaged in purposeful propaganda of Islam, mainly those who feel the need for faith, who are looking for the truth and the meaning of their existence, turn to Islam.
These people organize themselves into societies and study Islam. Under E. A. Shevardnadze, Georgian Orthodoxy was given a special status in the state, while Muslims have no status. Before the arrival of the Russian Empire, Georgia was practically a Muslim country, and the Orthodox were a confessional minority.
Georgian historians hide this, but the fact is the fact. Many Georgian historical sources were falsified before the beginning of the 19th century. Very many Georgian kings were Muslims, and the Muslim population played a dominant role in the country until the end of the 19th century. It should not be forgotten that the first centralized state on the territory of today's Georgia was the Emirate of Tiflis, formed in the 9th century, and the first parliament in Georgia was created by the great Muslim Turk Kutlu Arslan during the reign of Queen Tamara.
The anti-Islamic trend began to develop in Georgia after the establishment of power by the Russian Empire. A full-scale "crusade" against the Muslim population began after the proclamation of the Georgian SSR. Since 1931, with the approval of the executioners I. Stalin and L. Beria, bloody repressions began in the country. From 1921 to 1953, more than a million Muslims left Georgia due to discrimination and repression. The regions of Ahiska (Samskhe-Javakheti), Kakheti and the city of Tiflis were cleared of them by 90%.
Since 1936, the Muslim name "Tiflis" has been replaced by the Georgian - "Tbilisi". And the Meskhetian Turks, who were expelled in 1944, still cannot return to Georgia because of the neo-chauvinist and anti-Muslim sentiments of the ruling regime in the country. After gaining independence, at the suggestion of Z. Gamsakhurdia, a new surge of xenophobia began against the Muslim population, including against Ossetians and Abkhazians. We must not forget that in 1990 the company in Abkhazia was initially directed against Muslim Abkhazians, and only then it turned into a major ethnic conflict.
It was Z. Gamsakhurdia who called for the elimination of the autonomous status of Adzharia due to the fact that the main part of the population there preaches Islam. The policy of cleansing Georgia from Azerbaijanis, Lezgins, Chechens, Ingush and Avars, begun by Z. Gamsakhurdia, continues today. The Christianization of Adjara is in full swing.
During the reign of E. Shevardnadze, the anti-Islamic policy in Georgia was carried out in disguise. However, the seizure of power in 2003 by M. Saakashvili made it possible for the Georgian chauvinists to successfully continue this policy, begun by the executioners I. Stalin and L. Beria. For Adzharia, Christianization in general, one might say, is a state policy.
If you are a Georgian-Muslim (Ajarian) - the doors are closed for you in the public service and even in business. To overcome these obstacles, one must become a Christian. Georgian chauvinists proceed from the fact that Georgians are Orthodox. If he is a Muslim - for them it means almost an enemy.
He is perceived as a traitor to his people, whose ancestors sold themselves to the invaders in their time. This is the real situation in Georgia. Therefore, the Muslim peoples of our country must unite. Even ordinary Georgians call us not “Muslims”, but “Mohammedans”. This phrase is also used in official documents. M. Saakashvili's regime is essentially anti-Islamic.
Back in 2002, when the future president began his opposition activities, he brazenly called the Azerbaijanis a "pathetic nation." We also did not forget the illegal actions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia against the local residents of the Akhmeta region - Chechens and Ingush - and the cleansing of Muslims from leading positions in the Adjara Autonomous Republic.
According to the latest statistics of the 1994 census, the population of Georgia is 5 million 503 thousand people, of which at that time more than 300 thousand were Muslims. There are more than 1 million Muslims at the moment, Alhamdulillah!
Daud Tbilisi
Georgia is one of the most interesting countries in terms of culture. Here religion was one of the most important factors in the formation of the statehood of the country, its national self-consciousness. For example, Georgia was the second country in world history after Armenia where Christianity acquired the status of a state religion. This happened in 326. At that time, in Byzantium (the Roman Empire), Christianity, thanks to the emperor Constantine and his mother Helena, only ceased to be persecuted, but in Georgia and Armenia it had already gained solid support.
The main religion in Georgia
Without exaggeration, Christianity, especially the Orthodox Church, is dominant in Georgia. World religions - Christianity, Islam, Buddhism - these are the four religions that are most common on Earth, but Christianity is historically inherent in the lands of Georgia. However, it also has a division into denominations - currents within religion.
It has long been proven that Christ as a real Man existed on Earth. Among the Jews of His time, the place of His burial was widely known. In addition, after His Resurrection, He appeared to many people more than once, as the evangelists say. Yes, and the apostles themselves - holy people according to the testimonies of many - could not lie, unanimously asserting that He ascended to Heaven and indicating the place where the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is now located, as the place of His burial.
The most important dogma of Christianity is Jesus Christ, the Almighty Son of God, incarnated from the Virgin Mary and voluntarily accepted death in order to save people from the power of sin. The significance of the death, burial and Resurrection of Christ He Himself showed people. His words and actions remained in the gospel.
After being condemned to death, the Lord Jesus was Crucified on the Cross. However, Christ resurrected a day later, appearing to the holy myrrh-bearing women.
Only after the Resurrection did the apostles believe in the Divine will about the Crucifixion, death and the Kingdom of the Lord. On the 40th day after the Resurrection, Christ called the apostles to the Mount of Olives, blessed them and ascended into heaven on a cloud, that is, he began to rise higher and higher until he disappeared from sight. At the Ascension, the apostles received a blessing from the Lord to go and teach the gospel to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Holy Trinity.
Georgia - the inheritance of the Mother of God
At the Ascension of the Lord, the Mother of God with the apostles received from the Lord a blessing to go and teach the Gospel to all peoples, baptizing them in the name of the Holy Trinity: God the Father - Sabaoth, God the Son - Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit - the invisible Lord, who visibly dwells in human history only in the form fire, smoke or dove. The Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, who, together with the Mother of God and other apostles, were in the Zion chamber - the place of the Last Supper - on Pentecost, that is, in memory of the Resurrection of Christ, they had a meal on the fiftieth day after it.
After the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon them, the apostles and the Mother of God were enlightened with Divine knowledge. God Himself spoke in them, they instantly spoke in all the languages of the world: the Lord gave them this gift to preach the Gospel throughout the world. All the disciples of Christ, together with the Mother of God, by lot received directions and places where they were supposed to convert people to Christianity by baptizing them.
According to legend, Georgia became the lot of the apostolic (preaching) ministry of the Mother of God.
Christianity in Georgia
Christianity is traditionally divided into three branches:
Catholicism, that is, the One Roman Catholic Church with a single head - the Pope (at the same time, there is a special doctrinal dogma about the infallibility of the Pope, that is, he cannot do anything wrong and has absolute power). The Church is divided into "rites", that is, regional traditions, but they are all under the same leadership.
Orthodoxy, which is divided into independent, separate Patriarchate Churches (for example, Moscow, Constantinople) and within them - Exarchates and Autonomous Churches (Serbian, Greek, Georgian, Ukrainian - by region) with varying degrees of independence. At the same time, both the Patriarchs and the bishops of the Churches can be removed from government if they seriously sin. There is no single head of the Orthodox Church, although the Patriarch of Constantinople bears the historical title of Ecumenical. The Orthodox Churches have common ground in prayers, the possibility of joint celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist (Communion) and others.
Protestantism is the most difficult, mobile and disintegrating denomination. Churches here are also divided by region, there are bishops, but there are many sects - that is, those who classify themselves or are attributed by religious scholars to Protestantism of individual teachings.
The Armenian Apostolic Church is widely represented in Georgia, is small, but has a number of differences from both Catholicism and Orthodoxy. Armenians profess somewhat different dogmas about the structure and nature of the Holy Trinity (monophysiteism), serve according to their liturgical custom, which has been preserved since the tenth century.
Georgia - what is the importance of religion in the country
At an early stage historical development Georgia worshiped Christ. Today, many peoples live here, but Georgians are tolerant of all believers. Today there are several religious communities in Georgia. Confessional division is determined mainly by nationality and territory of residence: for example, Abkhazians and Adjarians, Azerbaijanis and Kurds are Muslims. But Russians, Georgians and even Greeks who live in Georgia profess Orthodoxy.
Armenians belong to their own Armenian Apostolic Church. There are several thousand of them in Georgia: about 250,000 Armenian Christians live in Tbilisi alone. Chapter Armenian Church in Georgia - Patriarch-Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II.
There are also Catholics in Georgia, but there are not many of them, compared to others - about a hundred thousand.
Orthodox Church in Georgia
The name of the official Orthodox Church in Georgia is the Georgian Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church, that is, a separate, autonomous church organization, headed by a Patriarch, equal in rank, for example, His Holiness Patriarch Moscow and All Rus' Kirill. His official rank is the Catholicos of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi Ilia II. He has served in his post since 1977.
Many scholars associate the birth of Georgian writing - mrgvlovani - precisely with the spread of Orthodoxy in the country. The same type of writing was preserved in Armenia, which was also enlightened by Orthodoxy.
Among the Local Orthodox Slavic Churches, the Georgian Church occupies the sixth place. In 2001, the Government of Georgia granted the Orthodox Church a number of advantages over other confessions.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Today, 90.6% of the population of Georgia professes Christianity, most of them are adherents of the Georgian Orthodox Church. About 2% are adherents of the Russian Orthodox Church, 4.9% of the Armenian Apostolic Church and 1% of the Roman Catholic Church.
Christianity became the state religion in Kartli in the 4th century. This significant event in Georgian history is associated with Equal-to-the-Apostles St. Nino, Enlightener of Georgia, with St. King Mirian and St. queen Nana.
A native of Cappadocia, a close relative of St. George, St. Nino in Kartli from Jerusalem, in fulfillment of the will of St. Virgin, after St. apostles once again preached and strengthened Christianity in this region. By the grace and power of St. Nino, King Mirian and Queen Nana accepted Christianity.
At the request of Tsar Mirian, the Byzantine emperor Constantine the Great, for the baptism of the king, his family and people, sent clerics, under the leadership of the bishop ...
In the Caucasus, between the Black and Caspian Seas, there is a country of ancient history and culture - Georgia. The beauty of Georgian nature, the originality of Georgian art and the unique color of the Georgian character delighted great poets and famous travelers. At the same time, it is one of the oldest Christian countries in the world, which is impossible to imagine without holy Orthodoxy.
Throughout its history, Georgia has been fighting against the invaders, who sought not only to enslave the country, but also to eradicate Christianity in it. Many conquerors were close to destroying Orthodox Iberia. But the Christ-loving Georgian people defended their homeland and preserved the right faith. Georgia is still one of the outposts of Orthodoxy in the modern world.
Portion of the Most Holy Theotokos
Georgia (Iveria) - the apostolic lot of the Mother of God. According to Church Tradition, after the Ascension, the apostles gathered in the Zion chamber and cast lots, in ...
Protopresbyter Theodore Zisis
professor at the University of Thessaloniki
ARE ARMENIANS ORTHODOX?
VIEW OF ST. PHOTIOS…
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Merciful!
Praise be to Allah - the Lord of the worlds! Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and companions. Whoever Allah guides, no one will lead him astray, and whom Allah leads astray, no one will guide him. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah alone, Who has no partner. And I testify that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His messenger.
Georgia was a Muslim country
The history of Georgia, like the history of the entire Caucasus, is the history of the struggle for their freedom, faith and original culture. During its existence, the Georgian people had to face in the struggle for freedom with many states, conquerors and peoples who spread various beliefs and ideologies.
Romans, Arabs, Mongols, Persians, Ottomans - this is not a complete list of those peoples and representatives of states that, in various historical periods of time, clashed in interests for the possession of truly fabulous corners of the world - ...
“All European travelers who have ever visited Georgia unanimously recognize the beauty and charm of Circassian and Georgian girls. Turks, Arabs, Persians, of course, share this idea, because with all their hearts they wanted to ennoble their people with Georgian blood, which the Persians managed to achieve.”
(Immanuel Kant - German philosopher, founder of German classical philosophy)
“When describing the Persians, the ancient traveler Chardin says: “Their blood is now extremely ennobled due to frequent marriages with Georgians and Circassians, two nations that surpass all others in beauty. In Persia, there is hardly one noble person whose mother would not be Georgian or Circassian. +
(Charles Darwin - English naturalist and traveler)
"The most beautiful people of the World, according to aristocratic features and a slender figure, are Georgians."
(German scientist Ritzel ("Tsnob. Purtseli" No. 1020))
The famous Chardin writes in 1671:
HIS RULE WAS NOT CLEAR. Having become the Byzantine emperor in 976, a stern warrior, tough, sometimes cruel, but consistent ruler, Basil devoted all his strength to increasing the power of Byzantium. Already in 976-979. together with the commander Barda Sklir (920-991), he managed to suppress the uprising of the Asia Minor nobility. A little later, he crushed another uprising of the nobility - now led by Varda Fok.
